Infant&#39;s chair



Nov. 5, 1968 J. J. HAMILTON ET AL INFANT S CHAIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1967 SI n RORB Ot o-ho TI 0 U I 0 H Fans 0 VARG m ms Tull (r J E H I so N "D H -T B or. J s I E I" A J /A I Y a ATTORNEYS NOV. 5, 1968 J J HAMlLTON ET AL. 3,409,325

INFANT S CHAIR Filed March 3, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 1

IRVEII'I'ORS JOHN J. HAMILTON JAMES F- SBLLARS, JR. THOMAS G. WEBB EDWIN K. MOORE ATTORNEYS NOV. 5, 1968 HAM|LTON ET AL 3,409,325

INFANT S CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 5, 1967 INVEHTORS HAHILTON Mas,

S G. W

JOHN J. JAMES E. SEL OHA WIN Fig. 5

TH EBB ED K. MOORE MflLQ ATTORIBYS United States Parent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An infants chair comprising a shell having a seat, bottom, and side walls. A handle is swingably connected to said shell andlocking means are provided for releasably locking said handle in different positions of adjustment with respect to said shell whereby said shell may be supported in the desired position of adjustment on a supporting surface.

This invention relates to an infant chair adapted to support an infant in a plurality of positions.

It is an object of the invention to provide an infant chair which will provide a contoured support for an infant, which can be moved into a plurality of positions of adjustment, which can be easily adjusted from one position to another but which can be releasably locked in any of its positions of adjustment, and which will have an attractive appearance yet prove sturdy and durable In use.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, there is provided a unitary infant supporting shell having seat and back portions generally normal to each other. A pair of side walls are connected to the seat and back portions and are provided with a pair of hub members to which a generally U-shaped support is swingably connected. Said support has a length such that it can be swung over at least one end of the shell for moving it between a carrying position in which it projects upwardly from said shell and serves as a handle for the shell for carrying an infant from one location to another and a plurality of chair-supporting positions in which it is disposed generally rearwardly of the shell for supporting said shell in a plurality of positions of adjustment.

The hubs on the shell side walls are provided with outwardly open sleeves and inwardly projecting axles on the support ends are slidably and rotatably carried in said sleeves on transversely aligned pivot pins for permitting said support to be swung into the desired position of adjustment with respect to the shell. The support ends have annular sets of teeth which are movable into and out of mesh with annular sets of teeth on said hubs upon sliding movement of the support axles in the hub sleeves. Conveniently, a spring is carried on each of the pins and acts between said pins and the axles to urge said axles inwardly in said sleeves for moving the support teeth into mesh. with the hub teeth for releasably retaining the support in the desired position of adjustment with respect to the shell. Movement of the support ends outwardly against the biasing action of the springs disengages the support teeth from the hub teeth so that said support is free to be swung into the desired angular relationship with respect to the shell.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an infant chair embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the chair shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another side elevation of the chair shown in FIG. 1, but showing the chair support in full lines in one of its carrying positions and in dotted lines in another of its carrying positions;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the chair shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1; but showing the chair in its rocking position; FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the. line 6-6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7.7 of

FIG. 6.

As shown, the chair comprises a unitary infant-supporting shell 10 conveniently formed as a plastic molding. Said shell has an elongated back portion 12 generally normal to a shorter seat portion 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of said back portion angles forwardly to provide an upper wall 16 adapted to extend over the infants head. The forward end of the seat portion 14 terminates in an arcuate downwardly projecting skirt 18 extending transversely across the shell and generally normal to the plane of the seat portion 14 for supporting the infants legs and feet. The lateral edges of th seat and back portions are continuous with a pair of forwardly projecting side walls 20 extending from the ing,

seat portion 14 to the top wall 16. Conveniently, the shell is rigidized by an outwardly projecting lip 22 extending along the forward edges of the side walls 20, the periphery of the skirt 18 and the forward edge of the top wall 16. For reasons that will become apparent hereinafter, a pair of vertically spaced ribs 24 and 25 extend transversely across the back portion 12 adjacent the seat portion 14. Said ribs are generally normal to the plane of the back portion with the upper rib 25 projecting farther rearwardly than the lower rib 24 and having a transverse arcuate configuration.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the shell is lined with a removable pad 28 to enhance the comfort of the infant. Conveniently, said pad may be formed from a pair of flexible plastic sheets 29 and 30 having a cushioning material 32 interposed therebetween. As shown, said pad comprises a back section 34 which lays against the shell back portion 12 and is connected along its lower edge to a seat section 35 extending over the seat portion 14. A pair of side flaps 36 project outwardly from the back section 34 to lay against the shell side walls 20, and an upper end flap 38 projects forwardly from said back section to lay against the shell top wall 16. The front edge of pad section 35 is connected to a lower end flap 42 which lays against the shell skirt 18 for cushioning an infants legs against said skirt.

The pad 28 is removably retained in the shell by its several flaps embracing the adjacent shell walls. It is further held in position in the shell by an infant retaining waist strap 44 extending through openings 45 and 46 in the pad and shell, respectively, and is adapted to extend around an infants abdomen. Conveniently, there is also provided a crotch strap 48 having its lower end connected to the skirt 18 and extending upwardly through openings 49 and 50 in said skirt and pad flap 42 with its upper end looped around'strap 44 at 51. Thus, said straps will act in combination to removably retain an infant within the shell and help hold the pad in the shell.

A generally U-shaped support 52 is swingably connected to the shell 10 for supporting said shell in a plurality of positions of adjustment on a supporting surface and for carrying the chair from one location to another. Said support, which is conveniently formed as a plastic moldcomprises a pair of legs 54 swingably connected to the shell at their inner ends and terminating at their outer ends in rearwardly angled stretches 55. The stretches 55 are interconnected by a transverse bight 56 offset out 01 the plane of said legs and having a generally oval crosssection including side faces 57 and 58 and end faces 55 and 60. The bight is bowed rearwardly to give its face 5'1 an arcuate curve similar to the curve on rib 25. Intermediate its ends, the bight 56 has an offset portion 61 forming a hand grip for carrying the chair from one location to another.

The support is swingably connected at its inner ends to a pair of aligned hub members formed on the outer faces of the shell side walls 20. Said hub members and their connections to the support are identical in construction. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of said hub members comprises an outer annular wall 62 having an annular set of teeth 63 formed in its inner face adjacent the outer edge thereof. An annular sleeve 64 concentric with the wall 62 projects outwardly from the side wall with the aligned portion 65 of said side wall forming an inner end wall for said sleeve. Conveniently, a plurality of arcuately spaced, tapered ribs 68 continuous with the shell side wall extend between sleeve 64 and wall 62 for bracing said sleeve 64.

The inner end of each of the support legs 54 comprises an inwardly projecting annular wall 70 having a plurality of annular teeth 72 formed in its otuer face and adapted to mesh with the hub teeth 63. The wall 70 is connected by a web 74 to an inwardly projecting axle 76 rotatably and slidably carried within the hub sleeve 64. Said axle is braced by a plurality of arcuately spaced tapered ribs 78 extending between said axle and the wall 70. As shown, the inner ends of ribs 78 taper along the same angle as the hub ribs 68. The axle 76 has an opening formed therein and counterbored as at 81, and a pivot pin 82 extends through the opening 80 and an opening 84 in the sleeve end wall 65. The inner end of said pin is peaned over the wall 65, as at 86, and the outer ends of said pin is provided with an expanded head 88 carried in the counterbore 81 in the axle.

The pins 82 in the two hubs are aligned and thus form a transverse axis of rotation for the support. A coil spring is carried on each of the pins 82 with its outer end bearing against the head 88 on said pin and its inner end bearing against the base of the axle counterbore 81. In this manner, said springs urge the support ends inwardly to bring the teeth 72 into mesh with the hub teeth 63 for releasably locking the support in the desired position of rotation with respect to the shell. Because of the supports generally U-shaped configuration, the inherent resiliency of its legs 54 will also urge its teeth into mesh with the hub teeth. Such outward springing movement of the legs 54 is limited by the faces of the axles at the bases of their counterbores 81 engaging the pin heads 88. As will be apparent, when the inner ends of the support legs 54 are pulled outwardly against action of springs 90, the support walls 70 slide outwardly with respect to the hub walls 62 to disengage the support teeth 72 from hub teeth 63. With the teeth out of their meshing engagement, the support can be rotated about the axis of pins 82 into the desired position of adjustment with respect of the shell.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the support is rotated into a position to project rearwardly at an angle to the shell, the shell can be supported at an angle to a supporting surface along the adjacent edges of the bight faces 57 and 60 and the head 24 on the lower end of the skirt 18. When the support is rotated into a position projecting only slightly rearwardly from the upper end of the shell, i.e., a position between those shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the shell can be placed in a conventional chair with one of the ribs 24 and 25 resting against the seat of said chair and the rearwardly directed support stretches 55 and offset bight por- :ion 56 being received over the upper edge of the chair ack rest.

As shown, the distance between the support bight 56 Ind the pins 52 is greater than the distance between said llIlS and the upper edge of the shell top wall 16. As hown in full lines in FIG. 3, this permits the support to e swung upwardly over the upper end of the shell to roject upwardly from said shell for conveniently carryig the chair with an infant therein from one location to another. When the support is rotated into a position projecting above the top of the shell and the chair is placed on a support surface, as shown in FIG. 5, it will be supported on the arcuate rib 25 and bowed bight face 57 and will be free to rock laterally on said rib and face. In such position, the chair can also be easily carried from one location to another. The support can also be swung into a position in which its bight face 57 abuts the rear face of skirt 18 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. With the support in this position, the chair can also be easily carried from one location to another.

It will be understood that with the annular ribs of teeth 63 and 72 on the links and support legs that said support can be releasably locked in any of its angular positions of adjustment about the axis of pins 82.

We claim:

1. An infant chair, comprising an infant supporting shell, a pair of hub members on the opposed sides of said shell, a support swingably connected to said hub members for movement with respect to said shell, at least one of said hub members having a plurality of teeth and said support having a plurality of teeth movable into and out of mesh with said hub member teeth, and means urging said support teeth into mesh with said hub member teeth for releasably retaining said support in the desired position with respect to said shell.

2. An infant chair, comprising an infant supporting shell, a pair of hub members on the opposed sides of said shell having pluralities of teeth, a support swingably connected to said hub members on a pair of pivot pins for swinging movement with respect to said shell, said support having pluralities of teeth movable into and out of mesh with said hub member teeth, and means on said pins urging said support teeth into mesh with said hub member teeth for releasably retaining said support in the desired position with respect to said shell.

3. An infant chair as set forth in claim 2 in which the teeth on said hub members and support are annular sets of teeth and said support is swingable over at least one end of the shell.

4. An infant chair, comprising an infant supporting shell, a pair of hub members on the opposed sides of said shell each having a sleeve and an outer annular wall having a plurality of teeth thereon, pivot pins carried in said sleeves, a support having its ends swingably and slidably mounted on said pins, each of said support ends having an axle rotatably and slidably mounted on one of said pins and carried in one of said sleeves and an outer annular wall having a plurality of teeth movable into and out of mesh with the teeth on one of said hub member outer walls, and means urging the teeth on said support into engagement with the teeth on said hub members for releasably retaining said support in the desired position with respect to said shell.

5. An infant chair as set forth in claim 4 in which said means comprises a pair of springs mounted on said pins and acting against said axles.

6. An infant chair as set forth in claim 4 in which said sleeves and outer walls on said hub members are interconnected by a plurality of arcuately spaced ribs, and said axles and outer walls on said support ends are interconnected by a plurality of arcuately spaced ribs.

7. An infant chair, comprising an infant supporting shell, a support having a pair of laterally spaced legs swingably interconnected to said shell at their inner ends on a transverse axis and interconnected to each other by a transverse bight at their outer ends, the distance between said axis and said bight being greater than the distance respect to said shell.

8. An infant chair as set forth in claim 7 in which outer ends of said legs are curved outwardly to otfset said bight out of the plane of said legs.

9. An infant chair as set forth in claim 8 with the addition that said bight has an offset formed therein intermediate its length.

10. An infant chair, comprising an infant supporting shell having seat and back portions, a pair of side walls connected to said seat and back portions, a skirt generally normal to said seat portion and projecting outwardly from the forward edge thereof, a pair of hub members on said side walls having pluralities of teeth, a support having means at its ends slidably and rotatably carried in said hub memb rs, said support means having pluralities of teeth movable into and out of mesh with said hub member teeth, and biasing means urging the teeth on said support means into mesh with said hub member teeth for releasably retaining said support in the desired position with respect to said shell.

11. An infant chair as set forth in claim 10 with the addition that at least one transverse rib projects rearwardly from said back portion adjacent the lower end thereof.

12. An infant chair as set forth in claim 10 with the addition that said back portion is provided with a forwardly projecting wall at its upper end and said side walls are connected thereto.

13. An infant chair as set forth in claim 12 with the addition that a pad is carried in said shell, said pad having flaps disposed against said side walls, forwardly projecting wall, and skirt.

14. An infant chair as set forth in claim 13 with the addition that a first restraining strap is received in openings formed in said pad and back portion to extend around an infant, and a second restraining strap is received in openings in said skirt and pad and is connected to said first restraining strap.

15. An infant chair, comprising an infant supporting shell having seat and back portions, a skirt projecting outwardly from said seat portion at an angle thereto, a transverse rib on said back portion adjacent said seat portion projecting rear-wardly from said seat in an arcuate curve, a pair of hub members on the opposed sides of said shell, a generally U-shaped support having a pair of legs connected to each other at their outer ends by a transverse bight and to said hub members at their inner ends for movement into a plurality of positions of adjustment with respect to said shell, said bight having an arcuate face whereby said chair can be supported on said arcuate face and rib when said support is swung into one of its positions of adjustment, and means on said hub members and support legs for releasably locking said support in a plurality of positions of adjustment.

1-6. An infant chair as set forth in claim 15 in which said support is swingable from a position in which it projects forwardly from said seat portion to a position in which its bight abuts the rear face of said skirt.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,421 7/ 1943 Quellette 297-3 10 3,101,972 8/1963 Laughlin 297-377 3,171,687 3/1965 Jensen 297-377 3,272,556 9/1966 Rocker 297310 3,334,944 8/1967 Gould et al. 297-377 3,362,747 1/ 1968 Fuelling et al. 297-373 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent'No. 3,409,325 November 5, 1968 John J. Hamilton et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 21, "otuer should read outer lines 28 and 29, after "opening" insert 8O line 32, ends should read end Line 55, "of" should read to Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

